The functions of OPD services of several hospitals were disrupted due to the joint token strike launched by Nursing, Paramedic and Supplementary Medical Services staff this morning.

17 Trade Unions launched the 24-hour strike at 7am today on 6 demands including the suspense of the over time allowance.

Convener of the Nursing, Paramedics and Supplementary Medical Services Federation Saman Rathnapriya said that the strike has been still operative in 650 government hospitals.

The services of issuing drug and the laboratory tests have been badly affected due to the strike today.

However Colombo National Hospital Director Dr. Anil Jasinghe told our news team that the strike did not impact much on the services of his hospital today.

Meanwhile spokesmen of the hospitals in Kandy, Peradeniya, Anuradhapura, Karapitiya and Matara said that the OPD services of their hospitals have been disrupted to some extent since this morning.

Consequent to the strike, Out Door Patients were compelled to buy prescribed medicines from private pharmacies.

Meanwhile addressing a media briefing held in Colombo this afternoon, Convener of the Nursing, Paramedics and Supplementary Medical Services Federation Saman Rathnapriya said that federation members will withdraw from emergency services as well if the authorities try to deploy training staff to continue services.

However the Health Ministry stated that it has already forwarded the necessary recommendations to the Ministries of the Finance and the Public Administration over the trade unions demands.

A Ministry pointed out that the strike was launched despite the over time allowance was increased from 65 percent to 100 percent.

The Ministry also said that the unions demand to increase it to 200 percent is therefore unreasonable.

Friday, 01 November 2013 - 7:05 PM

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OPD services disrupted due to Nursing strike.

It is reported that OPD services of several hospitals have been disrupted due to the joint token strike launched by Nursing and Paramedic staff this morning.

17 Trade Unions launched the 24-hour strike at 7am today on 6 demands including the halt of over time allowance.

Convener of the Nursing and Paramedics Services Federation Saman Rathnapriya said that the strike is now on in 650 government hospitals.

Our news team contacted Colombo National hospital Director Dr. Anil Jasinghe to comment on the impact over the hospital services.

He said that hospital services are carried out without a hindrance.

Kandy, Peradeniya and Anuradhapura hospital spokesmen said that the OPD services have been disrupted since this morning.

They said although doctors prescribe medicines and tests, there were no pharmacists and technicians to issue drugs and do laboratory tests.

However the Health Ministry stated that it has already forwarded the necessary recommendations to the Ministries of the Finance and the Public Administration over the trade unions demands.

A Ministry pointed out that the strike was launched despite the over time allowance was increased from 65 percent to 100 percent.

The Ministry also said that the unions demand to increase it to 200 percent is therefore unreasonable.

Meanwhile Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayake requested the strikers to report for duty without putting the patients in trouble.

The Federation of nursing and para-medic workers associations confirmed that its members will stage a token strike tomorrow.

The Federation planned the token strike based on 6 demands asking the authorities to resolve them without delay.

However Federation convener Saman Rathnapriya said that the ultimatum given for the authorities to respond to their 6 demands will expire today but no settlement has come their way to solve the workers’ problems.

Rathnapriya said that the strike will be launched at 7am tomorrow and the functions of government hospitals could be crippled during the 24-hour strike.

When our news team contacted Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayake, he requested the Federation workers to report for duty without putting patients in trouble.